Alabama - Opening statements are expected this morning in the capital murder trial of a Birmingham man charged with stabbing another man and then running him over with a sports utility vehicle in 2011.

Jerry Collins Jr., 31, of Birmingham, could face a possible death sentence if found guilty in the trial before Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Teresa Pulliam.

A jury was selected in the trial on Monday.

Collins is charged with capital murder in the death of 23-year-old Joseph Smith during a robbery on April 11, 2011.

Police have said Smith was inside an SUV when he was stabbed in the 500 block of 50th Street South. Smith jumped out of the vehicle, trying to escape. The driver then tried to run over Smith and struck a small embankment. When the driver backed up, the vehicle's bumper and a few other broken parts were left behind.

Smith then ran down the street where, investigators said, the driver ran over him at least three or four times.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2013/09/...gham_ma_4.html